Zambia is braced for more floods in most parts of the country due to continued extreme rainy conditions. The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit’s (DMMU) weather warning is still in place, with people in flood-prone areas told to take precautions. The DMMU urged people to move to safe areas and seek…
Zambia’s southern areas may face food shortages arising from a recent drought, says the Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI). In its latest bulletin titled The 2017/2018 dry spells: Should Zambia panic?, IAPRI says the scenario in the southern parts of the country requires the coordination of the Disaster Management…
The Rwanda Meteorology Agency (RMA) has advised farmers to start planting their crops now amid indications that the 2017/’18 rainy season will be much shorter than usual. The RMA says the next 3 months will be characterised by lower than normal rains in the Eastern, Western and Southern provinces of…
Heavy rains continue to fall across Zambia, prompting flood alerts by the nation’s Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU). According to DMMU, the heavy rains are expected to continue until the end of month, and will be concentrated in Lusaka, North-Western, Southern and Western provinces. “Take precautionary measures as flooding…
The Namibian government says crop farmers should brace for another outbreak of fall armyworm (FAW) following widespread rains experienced over the country last week. The first-ever FAW outbreak in Namibia was recorded in 2016. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry Percy Misika told New Era newspaper…
The Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) is predicting heavy rains and floods in the southern and western parts of Zambia. The forecast comes as the 2 regions recover from a long dry-spell that has seen damage to crops. “The pattern of heavy rainfall and floods is likely to persist into the…
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) says the late-planted crop in the South Africa’s (SA) maize triangle is more likely to recover following above-average rains over the region since the last week of January. In its latest Weather Hazards Bulletin for the period between 2 and 8 February, FEWSNET…
The southern parts of Zambia have finally received rain. Southern Province Agriculture Coordinator Max Choombe said the survival of the rain-fed crops will depend on the amount of rainfall received in coming weeks. “The province recorded good rainfall in the last week, and it is expected this will continue for…
The dry spell that has hit parts of Zambia is likely to continue for a few more weeks, says the Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD). ZMD Acting Director, Edson Nkonde said prospects of improved rainfall have been dimmed by another cyclone hovering over the Indian Ocean. Nkonde said ZMD was closely…
The Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) says the dry spell that has hit parts of Zambia is a result of Tropical Cyclone Ava that was sweeping across Madagascar. This is as farmers fretted about the dry and hot conditions, concentrated in Lusaka, Southern, Western and Central Province, from 31 December 31…
Seasonal moisture stress has worsened across Southern and Eastern Africa after poorly distributed rains of between 5 mm and 25 mm in several provinces in Zimbabwe, Botswana, southern Mozambique and northern South Africa in the last week of December. In its latest Weather Hazards Bulletin for the period between 5…
The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) says the “bulk” of the region will receive normal to above normal rainfall in the period between January and May 2018. In a mid-season rainfall situation review issued after convening the 21st Annual Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOP) in Gaborone on 13…
Heavy downpours over the weekend left scores of people homeless and it also renewed fears of post-harvest losses in Zambia. According to the Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD), the rain will continue over the next few days with the possibility of flooding in some areas. On Chilubi Island in Luapula, a…
This is you monthly update on southern African markets. KENYA In late March, the Government of Kenya issued an alert on the outbreak of Fall Armyworm (FAW). It has infested crops in Western, North and South Rift regions affecting the following counties: Baringo, Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Kericho, Nakuru, Nandi, Narok,…
More than 3 000 people in Sinazongwe in Southern Province have received relief maize following heavy rain which destroyed their crops. Sinazongwe district commissioner Protacio Mulenga said the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) made maize available at discounted prices to help those affected. “We have put measures in place to ensure…
The seasonal rainfall patterns are weakening over southern Africa after torrential rain caused soil saturation and flooding in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and parts of South Africa. According to the American Climate Prediction Centre (CPC) last week was the first week since the start of the rainy season in December, with…
An entire stock of fish fingerlings, valued at more than K90 000 were washed away by heavy rain in North Western Province. The development ground to a halt a major fish farming initiative by government, meant to empower local people and accelerate agriculture diversification. “As we speak, we don’t have…
Major dams in southern Africa are steadily filling up after good rain during the summer rain season and torrential rain over the past two weeks. BOTSWANA In Botswana, the Water Utilities Corporation said the Gaborone Dam reached 100% capacity on Monday, the first time in 10 years. The dam was…
The Zambian meteorological department has issued a warning of heavy rains over the next few days for several parts of Zambia. In a statement the department says downpours were expected. It was also likely to extend into next weekend in almost all 10 provinces. The department warned it might lead…
Cyclone Dineo has made landfall and several Southern African countries should brace for heavy rainfall during the next few days. The storm hit the Mozambican coast at Inhambane yesterday afternoon, bringing with it strong winds of over 100km/hr, and torrential rain of between 100mm and 200mm or more, said the…
The red locust swarm detected in the Kafue flats two weeks ago remain a threat. Heavy rains are also hampering efforts to eradicate the pests. “The heavy rains have made most roads impassable, making it difficult for our scientists to do their job,” said Moses Okhoba ,director for the Red…
The Zambian Meteorological Department(ZMD) has issued a warning for heavy rainfall and flash floods expected over several parts of Zambia over the weekend. Farmers in the Western, Southern, Lusaka, Central and Eastern Province should prepare for heavy rainfall events, the ZMD said in its latest crop weather bulletin. Since the…
Farmers in Zambia can look forward to improved rainfall by late November and early December, according to the Climate Service Centre of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). “This signifies good chances of a generally timely rainfall onset, with good potential for crops reaching maturity if the rain perform well…
